Morzine Ski Resort Review – as featured on the Erna Low blog

Morzine is located in the Northern Alps in France. It is right in the middle of the famous Portes du Soleil ski area, which is one of the most varied ski area in France. The village itself is a very charming alpine town with most of the accommodation being clad in traditional mountain wood.

Morzine is at 1,000m, thus in 1960 Avoriaz was born to allow higher skiing and lifts above Morzine. This then was the start of the now famous Portes du Soleil ski area which now includes 12 resorts, 8 on the French side and 4 on the Swiss side.

Skiing in and around Morzine is best suited to beginners and early intermediates. This area is also tree lined, making it a good option in bad weather. This and the brilliant resort facilities makes Morzine a firm favourite with families. There are three areas main areas to ski in and around Morzine, Pleney, Nyon Chamosserie and Super Mozine.

Pleney is the main area and where you will likely spend time if you are having lessons. Nyon Chamosserie is for the more intermediate skier, with plenty of blues and reds back to Morzine or Les Gets. Super Morzine offers the route into Avoriaz for more intermediate skiing, but the runs in this area are also well worth a go. It offers some wide inviting blue runs for beginners/intermediates to practice on.

You have two lift pass options, choose a Morzine / Les Gets pass for 150 euros for 6 days, alternatively if you want a larger area to ski opt for the Portes du Soleil area pass at 205 euros. If you choose the Portes du Soleil lift pass then you can venture into the intermediate area of Avoriaz. It’s a little bit of a hike up the Prodains lifts, but well worth it for powder hounds.

If you’re looking for a good ski school then we recommend Sally at the Snow Institute in Morzine. Choose from group lessons or private lessons from a well respected, English speaking company. Alternatively opt for BASS .

There are some really good options for mountain restaurants in the area, including Le Vaffieu which is at the top of Pleney, if you’re on foot then you can walk there from Morzine in about 40 minutes. Alternatively try Chez Nannon on they Nyon Plateau, it offers excellent food, and therefore is likely to be busy in good or bad weather, you must book!

In the evenings there are plenty of choices in Morzine, try Dixies, the Irish pub, the Buddha Bar is better for those looking for a quieter drink. For our top restaurant venture slightly out of resort to The Auberge at Ardent, whose tag is that “Food is an art and art take time, so please be patient. Believe us it’s worth the hike and the wait”. Though sometimes we think they keep us waiting so we drink more! It’s pretty small so do book. Alternatively for something in town and at good value try Le Café Chaud, which offers great traditional Savoyard menus.

For other activities in Morzine then try dog sledding, if you practice in January or February you can take part in the yearly International competition. There’s also an ice skating rink with an ice hockey team so you can try and catch a game. Morzine is a proper town and therefore the shopping is very good, so try and make time around the skiing.

Travelling to Morzine is easy by plane, car or train. If flying then Geneva airport is only 50 miles from Morzine, about 1 hour 30 minutes by bus or taxi. Flights are available from most UK airports to Geneva including the usual low cost carriers. Morzine is one of the nearest major resorts to Calais, and will take around 8 hours to travel, without breaks. Tolls cost will be around 70 euros each way. Alternatively, and a lesser known option is to travel to Morzine by train. Take the Eurostar to Paris and then change for the direct train to Thonon, it takes around 4 and a half hours and if you book early the seats can be as cheap as 80 euros return. The transfer up the mountain will take around 40 minutes.

All in all, Morzine is a fantastic resort with great skiing, and access to a massive ski area. The town itself is a traditional mountain town with an unspoilt feel. It’s a must visit for families, beginners, intermediates and mile eaters looking to explore the wider Portes du Soleil area.